Traffic signal for automobiles



Sept. 20, 1927. I 1,642,941

T. M. CAMPOS TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 4, 192e Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

lrrrouas'rr, CAMPOS, or LOS-ANGELES; GALrroBNIA.

.j mm1- 1C- SIGNAL non nuroiuoinns.

Application filed February 4, 1926. Serial No.- l85,984.

u irelatesito' signals designed to be mounted on` automobiles and l.operable bythe 4driver to -indicate to drivers yof other automobiles theintention ofthe driver and has for. its principal object *ther provision of apn-accessory thatis, quickly appliedto the automobile and 'is effective in operation,

comprising .a casing `containing a signal arm. that. isfmounted to, be housed within the` casingand tof-beprojectedtherefrom to signaling 'position by means of van operating n leverconnected with they-signalingl arm by sol means of anoperating arm, thecasing being provided with slots4 through which the arm is-projectedandathe operating armiextends.

the signaling arm beingshown in its .threel positions, y g

Figure 3, a longitudinal sec'tlonal view of the signal arm and the housing therefor on .a plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure a Figure 4, a transverse' sectional view on :a planeY indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure Figure 5, a detail sectional ,view on a plane indicated by theline 5-5fof Figure lgand Figure, a fragmental sectional view on a i planeindicated by the'lineG-,G of Figurev 1.

In the drawings, similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. y I The automobile accessory comprises 'a housingy 1 having arms 2 secured thereto and provided with yclamping members 3 to engage Va windshield postfA. -l The outer wall of the housing 11 is Vformedvvith any elongated slot kor opening 4 andthe inner wall with a slot or opening 5. yA semaphore arm 6 is pivotallyfmounted in the'housing l by means of a pivot pin "ik engaging the frontend rear walls of the housing 1, 8 indicating ears on the semaphore arm 6 that pivotally engage y'said pin '7.' A spring -9 is coiled around pin? and has one of `its ends engaging semaphore arm 6 and itsr other end a orossbar')HL connecting the vfront and rear walls of housing 1, andnormally f Y bar 21 and tending to hold'thearm 6. in upright posi; Y

tion as shown in Figure 2.` The semaphore arm 6 is preferably made hollow` and provided With transparent panels 1() front and rear, that 4may be colored red or any other distinctive color and the interior of Vthe arm may be illuminated in any suitable Vmannen such for instance as by electric lamps 11 carried by sockets 12 and supplied from any suitable source of electric power by means of Wires 13. -V

For `convenience in replacing `the electric lamps 11, ,andlalso the transparentV panels 10.; the Vupper and lower Walls of-semaphore arm G is madefin tivo pieces, designated 14 and 15,`hingedly secured together at thefree end of the arm, as Ashown at 16, vTh'eupper Wall-15 isV adapted to vbe swung on the hinge i 16 after removal Aof the nuts 17 from bolts 18 thathold said wall in a vclosed position.y The walls 14 and 15 are shaped to pro-y vide grooves 19, to receive the edges of panels 10, and inturned flanges frames for said panels.

Secured' to the arm 2 is a bar l21 on which is fulcrumed an operating lever 22, and 23 20 defining yindicates an L-shaped operatingV arm connecting lever 22 and the semaphore arm 6, being pivotally connected with said mem- -bers as shown at 24 and 25,. respectively. 26

indicates a segment1 secured at its ends to the` provided with notches'27 and 27a in which a detent 28 carried by lever 22 is adaptedV to seat to hold the semaphore arm 6 in adjusted positions, the detent 28 being operated by a hand lever 29 fulcrumed .on lever 22 and connected to detent 28 byk means of a link 30, 31 indicating a spring Vto retract said lever and hold the detent in engagement with the segment 26, normally. It willv be understood that spring 9 normally holds the semaphore arm 6 inclosed within housing 1 in anon-signaling position. When it is desired to indicate that thevehicle'onwhich the signal'is installed is about soY to stop or slowdown the operator by mov- -ing the lever 22 lupwardly until the detent 28 engages in notch 27 a Will move the semaphorearm 6 to zin-upwardly inclined position while if it is -desired to indicate that thefvehicle is about to makea right or left turn the 'semaphore arm V is moved to the horizontal position of Figure 1 and the detent 28 engages in notch 27 ,toihold the arm in saidy position. Y. -1 v A rearV view mirror may be provided and `by clamping members seenredin position on housing l by ineens disclosed in detail. in Figure G, in which the mirror is designated l2 and shown supported 33 held in clamping position by nieuns of a, bolt Pfl. Clamping` n'ieinbers 33 are tornied with recessed portions 35 that Collectively comprise a socket to receive n linll all ot' bracket 53T secured to said honsinnI l, this structure providing means by `Whioh the inirror niny be adjusted at the proper angie to give the operator a View oit the road behind the vehiele.

Secured to the. lower porticni of housing` luis an ont vardliv extendingI arni 38 on which is a lenip easing 23!) enrrying :i pnnel 4i() ot snitnliliy eolorodnjlass hearing the legend Stopl or other indiozition, said lmnp easing being provided with :U15Y prelerred inenns to illuminate the panel il() and oontrolled in tiny suitable inaniier.

It Willube also iniderstm'id that any Well known ineana to control the enrrent to .lamps 'iii nitty also `be provided, sneh nieanal not being a -prrtolf the invention involved.

lhnt is elaiined isz-- al. A semaphore nrni 'lor automobile sigpin arranged transversely ot the Casing, ears on said `.seninphore arm und plvotiilly e11-` gjnging said pivot pin `to pivot the arm in the easing, a cross bnr spanning theopening in the easing, a` spring,- ooilecl around the` pivot pin and tern'linally engaging the cross bnr and the lsemaphore arni tonormally hold it voneealed :in the easing, said Cross bar lorniinpv :1` stop to liinit the movement of the winziphore arm into signaling position, and

means to move the seniapl'iore arm into andr hold it in signaling position.

.in ies( nnony whereof.2 l atlix my signature.

Ti-ioivnis M. oAMPos. 

